Yigit Taha OZTURK 
A piece of crypto history has changed hands. Ross Ulbricht — the founder of Silk Road — auctioned off his personal items, including prison memorabilia and art, collecting over $1.8 million in Bitcoin.
Prison ID Sells for 11 BTC in Historic Crypto Auction
Using the Bitcoin-only marketplace Scarce City, Ross Ulbricht sold a variety of items tied to his life before and during prison. From a backpack and sleeping bag to notebooks, prison clothing, and paintings, collectors eagerly bid in BTC, driving the total proceeds past $1.8 million.
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The biggest draw? Ulbricht’s final prison ID card, which alone sold for 11 BTC (~$1.1 million). Ulbricht remarked on the photo, saying:
“The guard tried to stop me from smiling — but joy comes from within.”
Collaborative Prison Art and Collector Demand
A collaborative painting made with a fellow inmate named “Omega” sold for 1.01 BTC, while other items included hand-painted works, a prison lock, and handwritten notes.
Participants had to deposit 1% of their bid as collateral. Late bids reset the auction timer, keeping the process transparent and competitive. Bitcoin was the preferred payment method, though smaller bids via PayPal were also accepted. All payments are due by June 2.
Dormant Wallets Hold $47M in BTC
Beyond the auction, Ulbricht may still be linked to significant Bitcoin holdings. Coinbase exec Conor Grogan revealed that around 430 BTC (~$47M) across dormant wallets associated with Ulbricht were never seized by the U.S. government.
Arkham Intelligence backed the claim, identifying 14 wallet addresses linked to Silk Road, one holding over $9 million in BTC alone.
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